Walker selected to lead supervisors in 2026

The Adair County Board of Supervisors met Friday, Jan. 2, at the courthouse to reorganize for 2026.

The supervisors are required by law to meet on the first business day of the new calendar year.

Jerry Walker of Bridgewater was selected as chairman for the year, with Michael Christoffersen of Greenfield chosen as vice chairman. It will be Walker’s fifth year on the board and Christoffersen’s third. Christoffersen received a nomination for chairman but declined, citing his relative newness to the board.

Walker said communication within county government is vital to continued success.

“I think everything went really well in the county last year. Everything went according to plan,” Walker said. “We got a lot of bridges and culverts replaced and roadwork done. For the county as a whole, I think we did really well.

“To be successful, the biggest thing is just keeping everybody informed,” he said. “A lot of counties have problems because they don’t communicate between offices, elected officials or with the Iowa Association of Counties. Everything changes so fast, even throughout the year.”

Walker said one of his ongoing goals is to ensure residents’ concerns are heard and addressed in a timely and orderly manner.

In addition to his county role, Walker will serve this year as second vice president of the Iowa State Association of Counties Supervisors board.

Along with selecting officers, the supervisors made several organizational decisions. Among the actions taken were designating the Adair County Free Press and The Adair News as the county’s official newspapers, setting holiday office closures, approving travel policies and making appointments to various boards and commissions.

Walker was appointed as the county’s ADA coordinator. The supervisors also approved the condemnation board and appointed Dr. Ryan Frost to the Adair County Board of Health.

The board signed a right-of-way contract for a bridge project in Harrison Township and approved the front page of the project’s plans.